Satisfied with the larger-than-life showings they’d put on the past two seasons, Cinq à Sept kept it simple this time with a private appointment–based presentation at the Crosby Street Hotel. A trio of models posed in the Meadow Suite’s titular meadow—more a back garden—and a plate of Lori Stern’s famous fresh flower sugar cookies waited on deck. It was, according to founder Jane Siskin, “a mix of textures, a cacophony of color.” In other words, standard issue for the contemporary brand.

As such, the inspiration was somewhat surprising: a meal the team shared near Angkor Wat in Cambodia that was, according to Siskin, “the best meal ever.”

“The colors, the tastes, the smells,” she said. “We sat there and went, ‘That’s it, this is going to be the Spring collection.’” Perhaps the team drew more from the restaurant’s decor. There was a familiar trailing orchid print in pink and yellow or white and blue splashed on everything from another cotton message tee (this season: “Toute La Nuit”) to a quilted satin coat to a ruched mesh top to a lemon yellow dress with ruffles at both hem and shoulder.

“Cuteness,” Siskin described it, and indeed it was. But having struck on an idea as intriguing as a sensational Cambodian meal, one wished the end result had contained more substance.